Sydney Metro West is gearing up to build Sydney’s second under-harbour railway crossing with the final TBMs arriving on site. The two TBMs will carve out the 2.3-km twin tunnels from The Bays, under Sydney Harbour, to Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD as part of the Sydney Metro West - Eastern Tunnelling Package (ETP) awarded to the John Holland, CPB Contractors (CPB) and Ghella joint venture (JCG JV). These are the last of six TBMs being used for tunnelling on the 24-km Sydney Metro West line. 

The TBMs arrived in 32 pieces by ship (16 for each TBM) at White Bay port last month. They are currently inside the 34-m-deep station box at The Bays being assembled ahead of their launch later this year. 

Both 1,100 t machines will journey parallel to the Anzac Bridge, heading to the new Pyrmont Station site, and then under Darling Harbour before reaching the Hunter Street Station site in the heart of the CBD.    

These mixed shield (slurry) TBMs are specifically designed to excavate through sandstone and under the harbour. This will be the second under harbour crossing undertaken by Sydney Metro using this technology following the successful crossing between Blues Point and Barangaroo as part of the City & Southwest project.    

Once launched, the TBMs will tunnel at an average rate of 90 m per week and will arrive at the Hunter Street Station site in mid-2025. Sydney Metro West is expected to be complete by 2032. 

 For further information on the project click here, here and au/11 for tunnelbuilder archive and visit https://www.sydneymetro.info . 15/24.